Dispensing device for a toothpaste tube or the like



Aug. 4, 1959 J. G. REDMOND DISPENSING DEVICE FOR A TOOTHPASTE TUBE OR THE LIKE Filed July 16,

IN VENTOR.

United States Patent Ofifice DISPENSING DEVICE FOR A TOOTI-IPASTE TUBE OR THE LIKE John G. Redmond, Newton, Mass. Application July 16, 1957, Serial No. 672,281

3 Claims. (Cl. 222-519) This invention relates to a device attachable to a toothpaste tube or the like, for dispensing the contents of the tube through a discharge opening.

Screw caps are commonly used on tubes to hold shaving cream, toothpaste and the like, which must be unscrewed to obtain any part of the cream or paste, and then screwed in place again. Since this is an inconvenience requiring more time and effort than the average person wishes to so spend, my object has been to provide a more convenient dispensing device which can be opened and closed by easy movements that require less time and effort than the aforesaid screw cap.

Another object is to provide such a device that can be closed by a mere rotative movement which bring cam surfaces together, and likewise opened by separating said cam surfaces by a rotating movement in the opposite direction.

A further object is to provide such a device that may be attached to the well known toothpaste tube or the like which has a screw-threaded neck.

The foregoing and other objects which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction, combination and operative arrangement of parts such as is disclosed by the drawing. The nature of the invention is such as to render it susceptible to various changes and modifications, and therefore, I am not to be limited to the construction disclosed by the drawing nor to the particular parts described in the specification; but am entitled to all such changes therefrom as fall within the scope of my claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing my device in sealed position and attached to a toothpaste tube.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of my device in sealed position, attached to a toothpaste tube that is shown in section and broken away.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2; but showing my device in open position.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the discharge opening in the dispensing member in front elevation.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5; but showing my device in release position, with the cover ready to be moved to open position.

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of my device in sealed position attached to a toothpaste tube, showing a modified form of attachment of said device to said tube.

As illustrated, my dispensing device includes a hollow, collar-like cover 10 which has a recess or cut-out 12 at the inner surface thereof, thus providing a shoulder 14 at one end which serves as a stop member. The Wall of this cover 10 tapers in thickness, as at 16, as it approaches said cut-out, thus providing an inner cam surface, later explained.

A dispensing member or stem has a chamber 21 therein, commencing at the lower end of said member Patented Aug. 4, 1959 20. The latter has a shoulder 22 which serves as a. stop member when it contacts said stop shoulder 14, as shown in said Fig. 6. The wall of this dispensing member 20 increases in thickness as at 24, as it approaches said shoulder 22 thus providing an outer cam surface which cooperates with said cover cam surface 16, when it engages the latter, to hold said cover 10 and dispensing member 20 firmly together when in closed position, as shown in said Fig. 5. No further rotative movement in a clockwise direction is possible from said closed position. When the cover 10 is rotated, in a counterclockwise direction, said surfaces 16 and 24 are separated, as indicated in the release position shown in said Fig. 6, thus permitting said cover to be slid outwardly on said dispensing member 20 to open position, as shown in said Figs. 3 and 4.

Said member 20 has a discharge opening 26 through a wall thereof, in communication with said chamber 21, which latter terminates slightly outward thereof. Near its lower or inner end 28 said member 20 has a reduced portion 28 which provides a rim 30 inwardly thereof, while at its outer end a cap 32 keeps said cover It! from sliding off.

My device may be attached to a collapsible container or tube 34, commonly used to hold some well-known toothpaste or shaving cream or other material which can be ejected by squeezing said container. The latter has a beaded portion 36 which enters the recess provided by said reduced portion 28 and it also has a recess 38 inwardly thereof into which said rim 30 extends. These parts firmly attach my device to said container 34.

In said Fig. 7 a modified form of attachment to a conventional tube or container 40 of toothpaste or other material is shown. Said tube 40 has the usual exteriorly screw-threaded neck 42. Said dispensing member 29 has interior screw-threads 44 at its inner end, Where said chamber 21 commences, which screw-threadedly connects with said container neck 42. In order to make this connection more secure on said tube 40, serrations 46 may be provided on the open end of said dispensing member 20.

This modified device enables the use of my device on the well-known tube 40 now commonly used, hence my device may be repeatedly used by attaching it to a new tube each time an old one is emptied.

Normally said cover 10 will be in closed position, as shown in said Figs. 2 and 5, with said cam surfaces 16 and 24 in firm engagement so that the cover 10 will remain in closed position, except when some material in said container 34 is desired. Then said cover 10 is rotated counterclockwise to the release position shown in said Fig. 6, with said cam surface 24 opposite said cover cut-out 12, whereupon said cover may be easily moved outwardly to the position shown in said Figs. 3 and 4, where it will ordinarily remain due to a light, friction fit.

Upon squeezing either of the tubes 34, or 40, the contents will pass into said chamber 21 and out said discharge opening 26. Thereupon said cover 1d may be slid to a position where it covers said discharge opening 26 and rotated clockwise to the sealed position shown in said Fig. 5.

What I claim is:

1. A dispensing device comprising a cylindrical dispensing member having an outer cam surface on its side wall extending longitudinally throughout its length and a hollow cylindrical cover having a corresponding inner cam surface on its side wall extending longitudinally throughout its length, said cover being rotatable and longitudinally slidable on said dispensing member, said outer and inner cam surfaces being so positioned relative to each other that upon rotation of said cover they may be moved into frictional engagement with each other to maintain said cover in a predetermined position on said dispensing member, said dispensing member having an open chamber at one end and having an opening through its side wall in communication with saidchamber and. acap at .the end remote .from said. chamber. of greatendiameter. than .the. interior: .of said, cover, said. cover being of.;s11ch-. length relative. to said. dispensing. memberthat it.is.. slidable .on said dispensing member. to open or close'the opening.

2. A'dispensing device as set forth'in claim 1 in which said cover hasa cut-out therein and a shoulder atone end thereof,-said.dispensing member embodying a shoulder so positioned .as to contact said cover 1 shoulder when saidcover is'moved to releaseposition. 3. Adispensing device incombination, with a tube to hold paste having an exteriorly screw-threaded neck portion, said device comprising a cylindrical dispensingmem her having an outer cam surfaceon its side wall extending longitudinally throughout its length and a hollow cylindrical cover having a corresponding innercam surface onitssidewall extending'longitudinally throughout its 1ength,;said cover being rotatable and longitudinally slidsurfaces being so positioned relative to each other that upon rotation of said cover they may be moved into frictional engagement with each other to maintain said cover in a predetermined position on said dispensing member, said dispensing member having an open chamber at one end and having an openingthrough its side wall in communicationwithsaid chamberanda eapat the.endremote from said chamber. of greater diameterthan the interior of said cover, said cover being of such length relative to said dispensing memberthat. his slidableuon said dispensing member to open enclose the. opening,.,said dispensing member embodying an interiorly screw-threaded portion at its openendwherebyasaid.dispensing member may be screw-threadedly connected to said exteriorly screw-threaded neck portion of said tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED' STATES PATENTS 1,794,023 Lieberthal .Feb. M, 1931. 2,717,721 Gibson Sept. 13,195 2,762,536 Eriksen Sept. 11, 1956 

